Child&#39;s handbag novelty



' Dec. 13, 1938- M. sjBANNER ET ALy S HANDBAG NOVELTY CHILD Filed July 14, 1958 INVENTORS Patented Dec. 13, 1938 UNITED nSTATES PATENT OFFICE CHILDS HANDBAG NOVELTY Application July 14, 1938, Serial No. 219,149

6 Claims.

This invention relates to childrens handbags and has particular'reference to such handbags having sounding devices for the amusement of children.

One object of the invention is to provide a handbag novelty of the character described having improved means for the mounting and actuation of a sounding device by utilization of the body of the handbag.

Another object of the invention is to furnish a handbag novelty for children characterized by Ian expandible resilient sounding device which serves to maintain the bag body expanded and which will not break when the bag body is subjected to the distortions customary with flexible childrens articles.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved handbag novelty of the nature set forth having a very inexpensive body structure comprising stiiiening sheets inserted into the bag body in course of manufacture and one of said sheets carrying a sounding means which is thus located and xed in predetermined position in the handbag.

Another object of the invention is to furnish a vhandbag novelty of the type mentioned having improved means comprising a compressible sounding means in the handbag body and an indicia on the outside of the bag body for locating the main pressure area oi the sounding means, there being a mounting for the sounding means for positioning the same relative to the indicia upon inserting the sounding means into the bag body in course of manufacture.

A further object of the invention is to provide a handbag novelty of the class alluded to having few and simple parts and which is inexpensive to manufacture, neat and compact, simple and convenient in operation, and durable, reliable and efcient in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specification proceeds.

With the aforesaid objects in view, the invention consists in the novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in their preferred embodiments, pointed out in the subjoined claims, and illustrated in the annexed drawing, wherein like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation showing a handbag novelty embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view thereof taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a handbag stiffening plate and a sounding device mounted thereon. 5

Fig. 4 is a sectional View showing parts of the invention in course of being assembled.

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized when all of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and the same structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less than the whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, that the same may be incorporated in several different constructions. The accompanying drawing, therefore, is submitted merely as showing the preferred exemplication of the invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing, l@ denotes a flexible handbag novelty embodying the inven- "20 tion and which may be regarded as a combination handbag and expandible resilient sounding device which is operated by squeezing the bag body and serves to maintain the bag body expanded so that it shall not lose its shape or contour due to the distortions to which a flexible handbag is subjected by children, and which sounding device shall itself be capable of distortion Without breakage.

More specifically, the handbag novelty it may include a exible bag body Il having side walls l2, I3, suitably interconnected at the ends I4 and at the bottom l5, and having upper end gussets i6. For closing the bag, the U-shaped channel frame members l1, pivotally interconnected at i8, may have the bag material clamped thereinto at the tops and arms of the frame members. Carried by the latter is any usual closure means i9, and handle 20.

Within the bag body ll are a plurality of stiffener sheets 2l, 22, of cardboard or the like, the same being coextensive in size with the bag body. Mounted on one of these members 2l, is an expandble sounding device 23 which may consist of a pair of alined discs 2d, 25 of wood or other suitable stiff material. Extending marginally around these discs is a strip of flexible adhesive material 23a, such as adhesive tape, forming a highly pliable air tight chamber. Within the latter is an expansion coil spring 26 tending to ex- 50 pand the chamber. Mounted in the wall 25 is a tube or reed 2l and a vibrating or fluttering strip element 23 cooperating with the reed to produce a sound when the chamber is compressed land the air therein expelled through the reed. 565

In order to protect the projecting end of thereed, a dome element 29 may be aflixed to the outside of the wall 25, provided with an opening 30. For clear sound emission an eyelet 3l may be provided in the bottom of the outside wall of the bag body to provide a sound outlet so spaced relative to the sounding device as not to be accidentally closed when the latter is operated.

Within the body of the bag and forming a part thereof is a lining 32 that overlies the stiffener members 2|, 22 so that the latter lie between the lining and the outer side walls of the bag body. Said lining 32 may follow the gusseted contourand may extend to the bottom of the bag body as at 33, but is cut away at one corner portion so that its bottom 34 thereat lies above the sounding device 23, whereby access thereto is prevented and the same is protected.

At the mouth of the handbag, the side walls l2, I3, the stiifener members 2|, 22 and the lining are clamped in thetop portions of the U-shaped frame members Il. In the arms of the latter, only the walls i2, i3 and the lining need be clamped.

It is thus seen that the stiffener members 2l, 22 are secured to the bag body only at the top and are otherwise preferably free thereof and separate of each other. Further, the sounding device 23 is mounted only on the stiffener member 2l and is otherwise preferably free.

In order to indicate the location of the sounding device 23, an indicia is provided on the outside of the bag body, such as an element 35 representing an animal that can make a sound similar to that produced by the sounding device.

Certain advantages of the construction will best be appreciated by considering the manner of manufacturing the device li, which will now be described. The stirfener members or plates 2i, 22 are made up as separate elements, cut to the configuration of the bag body and so as to be coextensive with the side walls thereof, and having upward projecting sections 36 for a purpose hereinafter stated. To one of these duplicate plates the sounding device 23 is then attached, adhesively or otherwise. Meanwhile, the lining 32 and the outside bag body have been prepared, the latter with the indicia or ornament 35 already formed or clipped thereon. Now the stiffener plates 2|, 22 are merely separately inserted into the external bag body, an operation that is quickly and easily performed, and which automatically brings the sounding device 23 into correct juxtaposition to the indicia 35. Then the lining 32 is slipped into the bag body so as to bring its reentrant portion 34'above the sounding device. Finally, the upper marginal portions of the exterior bag body, lining and stiffener plates are inserted and clamped in the channel frames il, the stiifener plates solely at their projecting portions 36. Thus the handbag novelty is complete.

In operation, it is seen that the sounding device, by reason of its resilient expandibility, serves to maintain the bag body expanded. Children subject their handbags to a great deal of abuse and mutilation. Because the outside bag material is usually a cheap material such as Fabrikoid, it quickly shows the elfects of creasing and develops breaks. This effect is avoided in a substantial degree.

In use, the child has ample space in the bag body for depositing articles, and yet it cannot gain access to and mar the sounding device. But if the latter is subjected to strains, it can yield in every direction because of the extreme pliability of its circumferential wall 23a, and because it is attached to only one of the stiffener plates.

The loudest sound is produced by squeezing the bag body rapidly at the indicia 35. But by reason of the stiffener plates 2|, 22, the sounding device 23 can also be operated by pressure at points spaced therefrom. This is important as some children will not realize that it is best to exert pressure at the indicia 35. At the same time, the plates 2|, 22 serve to reenforce the bag body, and, in conjunction with the resilient sounding device 23, to maintain the same expanded.

We claim: Y

1. A childs handbag characterized by an eX- ternal indicia on a side wall thereof, including a bag body constructed of iiexible material, said bag body having side walls and providing a top .opening said bag body having therein a lining extending to the bottom of thebag body, plane stiffener members between the lining and the side walls, said stiffener members being substantially coextensive with the side walls and being movable toward and away from each other, U-shaped channel frame members for the bag body at the opening thereof, the side walls and the lining being in the top and the arms of said frame members, the stiffener members being clamped solely in the top portions of the frame members and being otherwise separate of the side walls and the lining, an expandible resilient sounding device located wholly within abottom corner of the bag body remote from the frame members and being ainxed to only one of the stiffener members, the sounding device being otherwise free of the bag body and lining, said sounding device being operated by moving the side walls of the bag body toward each other, said lining having a cut-away bottom cerner portion overlying the sounding device, whereby the sounding device can be initially attached to one stiifener member and located with respect to the indicia by inserting the stifiener member into the bag body in course of manufacture.

2. A handbag novelty including a bag body having outer side walls and having a lining therein, stiffener plates substantially coextensive with the side walls of the bag body and being located between said side walls and said lining, a resiliently expandible sounding device located within a corner portion of the bag body, said lining extending to the bottom of the said outer walls and having its bottom terminating above. the sounding device, the sounding device lying between the stiifener plates and being attached to one of them and tending to expand the bag body, and the sounding device being operable by squeezing the bag body with said stiffener plates moving toward and away from each other.

3. A handbag novelty including a bag body having outer side walls and a lining in the bag body, stiffener plates between the lining and said side walls, a resiliently expandible sounding device between said plates and underneath the bottom portion of the lining, said sounding device being attached to one of said plates and tending to move the same apart to expand the bag body, said plates being connected to the said side walls solely at the mouth of the bag body, and said sounding device being operable by squeezing the bag body.

4. A handbag novelty including a bag body having an outer wall section and a lining section, stiffener plates between said sections secured to the bag body solely at the mouth thereof, and lying alongside the side walls of the outer section, the stiffener plates being substantially co-extensive in size with said side walls, a resilient expandible sounding device located between said sections and lying between said stifener plates, said sounding device including a sounding charnber having side walls of stiiT material alongside the stifener plates and having a marginal highly flexible wall, said sounding device having only one of its stiff walls attached to one of the stiflener plates and being otherwise free so that the sounding device can be mounted by inserting its stiffener plate into the bag body, and whereby the sounding device can be distorted by yielding of the eXible wall thereof in the direction of the plane of said stiiener plate, without breakage of the sounding device.

5. A handbag novelty including a bag body having outer walls and a lining, at least one stiffener plate between said lining section and an outer wall of the handbag substantially coextensive in size with the latter, a resilient expandible sounding device between the lining and said Wall and being mounted solely on said stiffener plate and being otherwise free of the bag body, said stiener plate being secured to the bag body solely at its upper portion, said sounding device being located Wholly in a bottom corner portion of the bag body, said lining being cut away so as to overlie the sounding device and the lining otherwise extending to the bottom of the bag body, the sounding device projecting from the stiiener plate toward the opposite wall of the handbag and extending substantially the full thickness of said bag body.

6. A childs handbag characterized by an eX- ternal indicia on a side wall thereof, including a bag body of pliable material including side walls and a lining, at least one stiiener plate between a side wall and the lining substantially coeXtensive with the bag body, a resilient expandible sounding device mounted on the stiifener plate and adapted to be initially secured thereto to form a unit for insertion into the bag body to position the sounding device relative to said indicia, the sounding device being otherwise free of the bag body, and a frame for opening and closing the bag body, said stiffener plate and bag body being permanently attached as a unit to the frame and the stilener plate being otherwise free of the bag body.

MAX S. BANNER. IRVING BANNER. 

